Axid Side Effects

Generic name: nizatidine

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 1, 2023.

Note: This document contains side effect information about nizatidine. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Axid.

Applies to nizatidine: oral capsule, oral tablet.

Serious side effects of Axid

Along with its needed effects, nizatidine (the active ingredient contained in Axid) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking nizatidine:

More common

• Headache

Less common

• Chest pain
• cough or hoarseness
• fever or chills
• lack or loss of strength
• lower back or side pain
• painful or difficult urination

Rare

• Black, tarry stools
• bloody nose
• blood in the urine
• chest tightness
• clay-colored stools
• diarrhea
• difficulty swallowing
• dizziness
• heavier menstrual periods
• hives, itching, skin rash
• loss of appetite
• mental confusion
• nausea
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• swollen glands
• trouble breathing
• unpleasant breath odor
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting of blood
• yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

• Bleeding gums
• dark urine
• fainting
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• muscle aches and pains
• pale skin
• runny nose
• sweating
• swelling of the feet or lower legs
• trouble sleeping
• upper right abdominal or stomach pain

Other side effects of Axid

Some side effects of nizatidine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Diarrhea
• irritability
• sneezing
• stuffy nose
• vomiting

Less common

• Anxiety
• blurred vision
• body aches or pain
• change in vision
• constipation
• difficulty in moving
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• impaired vision
• joint pain
• muscle cramps or stiffness
• nervousness
• swollen joints
• tender, swollen glands in the neck
• tooth disorder
• trouble in swallowing
• trouble sleeping
• voice changes
• weight loss

Rare

• Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• inability to have or keep an erection
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to nizatidine: oral capsule, oral solution, oral tablet.

General

The most commonly reported side effects included headache, rhinitis, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 16.6%)

Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, somnolence

Frequency not reported: Seizure^[Ref]

A pediatric patient given 2.5 mg/kg orally 2 times a day for 23 days experienced an EEG-diagnosed seizure during treatment.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastrointestinal disorder, nausea, nausea and vomiting, tooth disorder, vomiting^[Ref]

Respiratory

Common (1% to 10%): Cough, cough increased, nasal congestion, nasopharyngitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis

Postmarketing reports: Bronchospasm, laryngeal edema^[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Accident, asthenia, fever, injury, pain, pyrexia, surgical procedure^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal dreams, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, nervousness

Postmarketing reports: Decreased libido, reversible mental confusion^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus, rash, sweating, urticaria

Postmarketing reports: Exfoliative dermatitis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Common (1% to 10%): Back pain, myalgia

Postmarketing reports: Arthralgia^[Ref]

Immunologic

Common (1% to 10%): Infection

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Serum sickness, serum sickness-like reactions^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain

Frequency not reported: Short episodes of asymptomatic ventricular tachycardia

Postmarketing reports: Vasculitis^[Ref]

Metabolic

Common (1% to 10%): Anorexia

Postmarketing reports: Hyperuricemia unrelated to gout or nephrolithiasis^[Ref]

Ocular

Common (1% to 10%): Amblyopia^[Ref]

Hematologic

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anemia

Postmarketing reports: Agranulocytosis, eosinophilia, fatal thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura^[Ref]

Fatal thrombocytopenia was reported in a patient who experienced possible drug-related thrombocytopenia previously received this drug and another histamine-2 (H2) receptor antagonist.^[Ref]

Hepatic

Some patients developed ALT and/or AST elevations exceeding 500 international units/L, with a report of an ALT level exceeding 2000 international units/L.

Some patients 2 to 18 years developed mild elevations in serum transaminase levels (1 to 2 times the upper limit of normal).

Liver enzyme elevations and liver abnormalities were reversible upon discontinuation of treatment.^[Ref]

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Transient, marked transaminase elevations, transient, marked alkaline phosphatase elevations

Frequency not reported: Elevated liver enzyme tests (alkaline phosphatase, ALT, AST), hepatocellular injury, transient, asymptomatic transaminase elevations, transient, asymptomatic alkaline phosphatase elevations

Postmarketing reports: Cholestatic injury, cholestatic injury with jaundice, hepatitis, jaundice, mixed hepatocellular injury, mixed hepatocellular injury with jaundice^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions included bronchospasm, eosinophilia, laryngeal edema, and rash.^[Ref]

Postmarketing reports: Anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity reactions^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Postmarketing reports: Impotence^[Ref]

Endocrine

Postmarketing reports: Gynecomastia^[Ref]

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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